Here are the latest rugby headlines on Wednesday, January 3.
Woodward backs Gatland and England after changes
Sir Clive Woodward has backed Warren Gatland to bring the stardust back to Wales, insisting he is the only man who can make them a force again.
Woodward believes Gatland will focus his attentions on home matches against Ireland and England, with momentum set to be crucial.
Read next: Warren Gatland closes in on defence coach as clear front runner emerges
Writing in his Daily Mail column, he said: "It’s a new start with Warren Gatland back in charge. He brings stardust and an edge to the Welsh team.
"Wales were struggling under Wayne Pivac. You can’t lose against Italy and Georgia at home and expect to survive. Wales have to make Cardiff a fortress once again. There is only one man in world rugby who can do that for them and it’s Gatland.
"You don’t get a set of gates named after you at your home stadium if you’re not a good coach! I think Wales will target their home games this year and look to build from there.
"Their first match with Ireland will be huge. Wales don’t have the depth of other countries and for Will Rowlands to be out of the Six Nations is a big blow. Gatland always talks about the Six Nations as a tournament of momentum and he is right."
Woodward is also confident of England's chances in the Six Nations and World Cup now they have dispensed with Eddie Jones, insisting Steve Borthwick's men can win both competitions. He predicts they will topple reigning Grand Slam champions France at Twickenham in March.
He added: "Whoever is going to win the World Cup will have to beat France at home and that’s a fearsome prospect. However, I think England will get the better of them at Twickenham in the Six Nations."
Louis Rees-Zammit injury details emerge
Gloucester boss George Skivington does not expect injured Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit to play for the club again before this season's Guinness Six Nations Championship kicks off. The 21-year-old wing is facing a race against time to be fit for Wales' Six Nations opener - and first game with Warren Gatland back in charge - against Ireland on February 4.
He suffered an ankle injury during Gloucester's Gallagher Premiership defeat at Leicester on Christmas Eve, and Rees-Zammit is now set to miss domestic and European fixtures against Saracens, Leinster, Bordeaux-Begles and Exeter this month.
"He is walking around at the moment, which is good news, but [he] is definitely not going to be back any time soon," Skivington said. "I have not got an exact date of return because it is going to be around that Six Nations period.
"From my point of view, I plan for him not to be here for a few weeks. I am not sure exactly what week of the Six Nations it is that he will or won't get ready for, but he will not be playing for us in the next couple of weeks anyway.
"He has been scanned. The medics are on top of it. I just know he is not going to be here for the Six Nations, and therefore it's up to Wales to work out whether he is going to play for them."
Rees-Zammit, who has won 22 caps, would be a major attacking weapon for Gatland. His try-scoring prowess and game-breaking ability has been showcased during an international career which also saw him gain British and Irish Lions selection for the 2021 South Africa tour.
Skivington added: "I am being absolutely honest from my point of view. I know he is not available for me until that Six Nations period, and I am moving on. I am hoping he will be available for some point of the Six Nations and beyond that. I have so many things going on with other injuries and people, and I leave it to others.
"Hopefully he will be ready for the start of the Six Nations, but there is no date been given to me. Whether it is because it is one of those injuries where it could kick on quicker - he is a young healthy bloke, and hopefully he recovers as quick as anybody - or whether it's a debate [about] should he play this game or not, I am genuinely not sure about it."
After Ireland, Wales face Scotland in Edinburgh seven days later before hosting England on February 25.
Leinster to avoid fine for playing Celtic Symphony
Leinster look like they will avoid a formal sanction for playing the Wolfe Tones song Celtic Symphony after their win over Connacht on New Year’s Day, the Irish Independent reports.
While a fine seems off the table, the province will, however, be expected to explain how the song was played over the PA system at the RDS. The song features the lyric "Up the Ra".
The province apologised in the aftermath of the game, saying: "A song was played over the PA at the RDS Arena ... that shouldn’t have been played. Leinster Rugby has taken measures to ensure it doesn’t happen again and apologises sincerely for its use and for any offence caused.”
Rob Burrow helped Kevin Sinfield find new challenges
Kevin Sinfield believes his elevation to England's coaching team has only been made possible by the inspiration provided by his close friend Rob Burrow.
Sinfield will act as Steve Borthwick's number two with responsibility for the defence in a continuation of the partnership that delivered the Gallagher Premiership for Leicester last season. While the chance to work with Borthwick has always been a big draw, the rugby league great sees the chain of events started by Burrow's diagnosis with motor neurone disease as the most influential factor behind his successful switch of codes.
As part of his fundraising for research into MND, he has undertaken a series of running challenges, the most recent of which took place in November when he completed 300 miles in seven days with his former Leeds Rhinos team-mate present at the finishing line to greet him.
"As soon as I finished the challenge after Rob had been diagnosed, I knew I had to do something different with my life," Sinfield said. "A lot of that is based around Rob. Rob's faced with this horrific disease and I realised I needed to take some risk and I needed to find more challenges in my life.
"As a player you get so much fulfilment from playing and I did - I took so much satisfaction. When I stopped playing, I was not lost but I was trying to fill a void I could never fill again.
"The opportunity at Leicester presented itself, which I jumped at. I didn't have any idea at that stage that I'd find myself here in 15-16 months time. If you'd have told me, I'd have to pinch myself.
"A couple of things I've got from Rob are about fight. Rob's inspired me in so many different ways and it's probably a large reason why I'm here today because without that horrible news I'm not quite sure I would have come down this path."
READ MORE:
Shaun Edwards names the 'real' best team in world and Johnny Sexton faces Wales blow
Warren Gatland's options if WRU block Rob Howley move as loyalty leaves few clear candidates
Six Nations superstar takes out his teeth and uses them on scratch card in viral video
